The GWR under G J Churchward embarked on a programme of modernisation and standardisation which included the construction of better and more robust wagon stock suitable for many years of heavy service. Iron and steel were introduced for wagon underframes and bodies, finding favour with the engineering and locomotive departments where wagons were subject to some of the roughest of abuse. The engineers spoil wagons in particular lasted well into the British Railways era, with many wagons entering preservation in the 1980s direct from BR (nominal) service. Locomotive coal was of course in lesser demand after the early 1960s.
The N13 design of locomotive coal wagons are ideal for coal delivery to small branch line locomotive depots where coal might be shovelled direct from the wagon to the locomotives' bunker, making this one of the most useful of kits for GWR modellers.
Subsequent 10-ton iron and steel bodied loco coal wagons to diagrams N19 and N20 were generally similar to the N13 and this kit can be modified to replicate these diagrams with reasonable accuracy.